Falling Waters Preserve

Falling Waters Preserve

Public Access: The preserve is open to the public year-round daily from dawn to dusk. Please respect the privacy of the Dominican Sisters by parking only in designated areas and staying on marked trails.

Directions: Located on Dominican Lane in Glasco, NY. From the Village of Saugerties, drive south on Route 9W; turn left onto Josephs Drive, then turn right at the T intersection onto York Street. Dominican Lane is your first left.

This stunningly diverse 192-acre preserve features wooded shoreline, picturesque streams, dramatic waterfalls, meadows, wetlands, and more than a mile Hudson River waterfront. These natural features are showcased by a trail network including a mile-long riverside footpath with breathtaking views of the Hudson River, a gravel road with views of the Catskills, and an old carriage road leading to the river’s edge.

The creation of Falling Waters Preserve is the result of a unique collaboration, and ECC is proud to be part of this effort. The Dominican Sisters, who own the property, generously granted Scenic Hudson an easement on the land and agreed to allow public access to a portion of it. Scenic Hudson planners worked with the Sisters and the ECC to improve an existing riverside trail system while protecting the Sisters’ privacy. New trails were constructed and will be maintained by Scenic Hudson and ECC.

The waterfront was once the site of the massive Mulford Ice House which held up to 10,000 tons of ice blocks harvested annually from the frozen river during winter months and shipped to New York City during warmer months. Very little remains from the ice house era, and hardwood forest now define the shoreline. Once a busy wharf, the landscape has evolved into a peaceful riverside destination.

Activities: The Preserve is suitable for numerous outdoor activities, including walking/hiking, bird-watching, dog walking (on leash), picnicking, fishing, and X-country skiing/snowshoeing (ungroomed trails). It is also a fun destination for kayaking on the Hudson River with nearby boat launch access at Glasco Mini Park and Tivoli waterfront.